Oral path 2 Flashcards
(173 cards)
What does lichen planus mean?
Flat fungus - it is originally a tree disorder and IS NOT A FUNGUL INFECTION IN THE MOUTH
What are the most common lichen planus lesion appearances
- Striated lesions
- Erosive/ulcerative lesions - THESE ARE PAINFUL
- Atrophic lesion
What is lichen planus in oral pathology terms?
Oral lichen planus is a common immune-mediated (NOT AUTOIMMUNE) mucosal disease. It has an incidence of around 2.2%.
It is a chronic disease, often bilaterla and symmetrically distributed.
Common sites: buccal mucosa, dorsal surface of tongue and gingiva.
Could be triggered by medication, dental materials, mints and cinnamon
What are clinical features of oral lichen planus?
- Striae - most common, sharply defined and do not disapear when whiped
- Atrophic areas - read areas and thin mucosa
- Erosive areas - shallow area of ulceration
- White plaque - think about leukoplakia
White kind of appearance can the gingiva be if it is affected by lichenoid inflammation?
Desquamative gingivitis appearance - atrophic and “raw”.
Remember that this is not exclusive to lichen planus
What are some of the other, extraoral signs of lichen planus?
Cutaneous lesion on the flexour surfaces of the body.
Purple papules, scaly lesions.
Look at patients wrists
What is the pathology of lichen planus?
- Migration of T-lymphocytes into the epithelium
- Epithelium basal cell layer destruction - the stems cells within the basal cells are lost
- Epithelium becomes thinner and keratinised
- Further lymphocytes recruitment forms dense infiltrate below the epithelium
- Immune reaction leading to keratinocyte destruction
What are the option of clinical diagnosis of lichen planus?
- Very good medical history - all contact reactions, time noticed
- Histopathology - request histopathology after biopsy
- Immunofluorescence studies - pathology LAB ONLY - in lichen planus it is deposition of fibrinogen along the basement membrane - it appears shaggy
But the most important part - DISCLUDE ALL OTHER WHITE LESIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR
What is immunofluorescence or immunohistochemistry?
It is a test that can be used for autoimmune disease as well immune mediated conditions (such as lichen planus).
For this test - pathology lab needs to pick u the sample on the day. Please put the subject into saline.
What do we look for in autoimmune diseases?
Auto-antibodies - self anti-bodies that attack self cells.
What is the aetiology of lichen planus?
The main factor and process is not known but we have some associations.
What are the differential diagnosis for a lesion that is similar lichen planus?
- Lichen planus
- Lupus eythematosus
- Cheek biting/ frictional keratosis
- Graft versus host disease
- Candidosis
- Idiopathic leukoplakia
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Chronic ulcerative stomatitis
What are the steps to diagnosis of lichen planus?
- History of drugs and/or systemic illness
- Location/pattern of lesions
- Histopathology and immunofluorescense
What is the reported rate of transformation rate of lichen planus into a malignancy?
Around 0.44%.
For which drugs could there be a lichenoid drug reaction?
ACE inhibtors, NSAIDS, Tetracyclines and many more
What oral lichenoid contact lesions?
They are lichenoid lesions that may occur due to contact with dental materials.
HISTORY and EXAMINATION is essential
What do you do if you confirm lichen planus?
- Long term monitoring
- Reducing factors associated with lichen planus such as tobaco or other
- Control of symptoms - use CHx and maybe avoid certain foods. Use Corticosteroids, topical injection, antifungal therapy.
What are the topical steroid used for lichen planus?
Betamethasome dipropionate 0.05% cream or ointment topically to the lesions, twice daily after meals, until symptoms resolve
What is lupus erythematosus?
It is an autoimmune disease.
Two main forms: Systemic lupus erythematosus and discoid (cutaneous) lupus ertyhematosus
What can you see histologically around lichen planus?
Melanin continetns - proliferation of melanin around the lichen planus.
This may be also een clinically - post inlammation pigmentation
What is aetiology of lupus?
Unclear but it does have auto antibodies circulating and it is genetic in nature
What is the common presentation of discoid lupus eythematosus?
They appear disc in shape and similar in appearance to lichenoid lesions but with some epidermal lesions also present in sun exposed areas.
What is some of the common aspects of discoid lupus erythematosus lesions orally?
Common in buccal mucosa, gingiva and vermillion.
Plaque or erosions
White keratotic stria
What are some of the common aspect of histology of discoid lupus erythematosus lesions?
Similar to lichen planus but the sub-epithelial band is not as uniform than in lichen planus.
Also - lupus band test that is shown in immunoflurescence due to deposition of immunoglobulin and C3 - very very distinct unlike the shagging like in lichen planus